Matthew McConaughey takes the lead in the Jeff Nichols-directed drama, playing the title character -- yes, his name is Mud -- who lives in hiding on a house boat on an island in the Mississippi River. A hard-living refugee on the run from bounty hunters after he killed a man in Texas, he piques the interest of two young teenagers who land on his island and corrals their help in collecting food and supplies. He tells the pair that he is set on reuniting with his lost love, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), but the truth is something more dark and complicated.

The film marks Nichols' third feature, following his breakout drama Take Shelter, which debuted at Cannes in 2011. That film's star, Michael Shannon, returns for a smaller role in this one as an oyster-diving uncle to Neckbone, one of the two teens (played by Jacob Lofland).

Ray McKinnon and Sarah Paulson play the divorcing parents of Ellis, the other teen (Tye Sheridan).

In his review, THR chief film critic Todd McCarthy called the film a "well-carpentered piece of work marked by some fine performances and resilient thematic fiber."